What is PRP?
Platelet rich plasma, or PRP, refers to an injection procedure that uses the healing factors from your blood to stimulate and promote healing in an area of chronic injury. Our blood contains platelets and hundreds of growth factors and healing proteins, which naturally get recruited to areas of injury. In order to isolate these healing factors, we spin a sample of your blood in a centrifuge machine, which separates the blood into its respective components: red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma. The platelets and growth factors become concentrated in the plasma portion of the blood, which is then removed and used for the injection.
Oftentimes, when injuries become chronic, there has been inadequate healing at the injured site, which results in persistent pain and functional loss. Steroid (i.e. cortisone) is not a great solution in this case due to its caustic effects on our tissue and its hinderance to any healing process. PRP, then, becomes an excellent option to help reinitiate and stimulate healing at the site of chronic injury. This kind of injection requires image guidance, typically with ultrasound, for accuracy purposes. The benefits can sometimes take a few weeks due to the healing process, and repeat injections may be necessary, depending on the extent of the injury.
Unfortunately, there is no standardization for these kinds of procedures. However, the protocols that we use at 360 Sports, Spine and Wellness have been heavily vetted and have been shown to be effective. We continue to follow the research and data to provide the highest quality of care to our patients. If you’d like to see if PRP is an option for you, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment with one of our physicians who could discuss this option with you further.
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